Today Is Giving Tuesday

Today is #GivingTuesday, a day dedicated to giving back. On #GivingTuesday, nonprofits, families, businesses and students around the world come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

Last year, many of you made #GivingTuesday an incredible success for Cara, a mission I am passionate about. What began as a humble effort four years ago, to raise $10,000 with a $5,000 challenge grant, grew to over $60,000 last year. I am grateful for your support.

Inspired by last year’s success, we took a deep breath, asked others to join us, (myself, Kevin Krak, Vistage Member and CEO of Gallant Building Solutions, Amanda and Benjamin Wilson and The Coleman Foundation), and set our most ambitious goal ever, a $100,000 Giving Tuesday Grant. We will match nearly every dollar of the first $50,000 raised.

My relationship with Cara began several years ago when a friend invited me to experience Morning Motivations. I discovered on this day how similar Vistage’s mission, of increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the lives of CEOs and Executives, is to Cara’s mission for its students. We’re both about uncovering the leader within and inviting them to become their best selves. Cara does it by unlocking hope and opportunity. Or as I have become fond of saying “Cara not only ‘teaches a man to fish’, they provide the pole”.

In addition to coaching Maria Kim, Cara CEO, and member of Vistage, for the first time this year, I have had the opportunity to coach and mentor a Cara student named Kyle. Last month, I wrote about Kyle and one of Cara’s many successful graduates in a blog titled Perspective.  Kyle is a highly educated, Princeton undergraduate and NYU MBA, and had a stellar career until his life fell apart and he was lucky enough to find Cara.

Through my work with Kyle, I am discovering firsthand how Cara transforms lives. And the beautiful part is, Cara’s job and life skills training works for anyone who is motivated to achieve the results they want. In Kyle’s words:

This community has changed my life, loved me and shown me I still have value to offer, despite my mistakes. I now believe the person who is on this resume is still me; and I am going out on my own, standing on the foundation that Cara built”.

Like all well run Vistage companies, Cara measures their performance. They produce hundreds of jobs each year, at retention rates over 20 points higher than national norms. They also produce a profound $6.2 million annual social impact and a 597% social return on investment.

Would you consider making a donation this year for #GivingTuesday? Your gift will be matched 100%, and you’ll be helping a motivated person get back to work.

Click Here to give today and your gift will go twice as far.

Thank you in advance for joining us for a Giving Tuesday donation to the Cara Program, or to the social purpose organization of your choice.

 

 

Thanks-Giving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I love this holiday because it is celebrated by all Americans, regardless of their backgrounds, affiliations or preferences.

While the “thanks” part of Thanksgiving is so meaningful, the “giving” part is equally so. To celebrate the giving part, a delightful tradition, called #GivingTuesday, takes place on November 28th.

Last year, many of you made #GivingTuesday an incredible success for Cara, a mission I am passionate about. What began as a humble effort four years ago, to raise $10,000 with a $5,000 challenge grant, grew to over $60,000 last year. I am grateful for your support.

Inspired by last year’s success, we took a deep breath, asked others to join us, (myself, Kevin Krak, Vistage Member and CEO of Gallant Building Solutions, Amanda and Benjamin Wilson and The Coleman Foundation), and set our most ambitious goal ever, a $100,000 Giving Tuesday Grant. We will match nearly every dollar of the first $50,000 raised.

My relationship with Cara began several years ago when a friend invited me to experience Morning Motivations. I discovered on this day how similar Vistage’s mission, of increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the lives of CEOs and Executives, is to Cara’s mission for its students. We’re both about uncovering the leader within and inviting them to become their best selves. Cara does it by unlocking hope and opportunity. Or as I have become fond of saying “Cara not only ‘teaches a man to fish’, they provide the pole”.

In addition to coaching Maria Kim, Cara CEO, and member of Vistage, for the first time this year, I have had the opportunity to coach and mentor a Cara student named Kyle. Last month, I wrote about Kyle and one of Cara’s many successful graduates in a blog titled Perspective. Kyle is a highly educated, Princeton undergraduate and NYU MBA, and had a stellar career until his life fell apart and he was lucky enough to find Cara.

Through my work with Kyle, I am discovering firsthand how Cara transforms lives. And the beautiful part is, Cara’s job and life skills training works for anyone who is motivated to achieve the results they want. In Kyle’s words:

This community has changed my life, loved me and shown me I still have value to offer, despite my mistakes. I now believe the person who is on this resume is still me; and I am going out on my own, standing on the foundation that Cara built”.

Like all well run Vistage companies, Cara measures their performance. They produce hundreds of jobs each year, at retention rates over 20 points higher than national norms. They also produce a profound $6.2 million annual social impact and a 597% social return on investment.

Would you consider making a donation this year for #GivingTuesday? Your gift will be matched, and you’ll be helping a motivated person get back to work.

Click Here to give today and your gift will go twice as far. (Don’t let the name fool you; we’re accepting donations today through November 28th).

Thank you in advance for joining us for a Giving Tuesday donation to the Cara Program, or to the social purpose organization of your choice.

Ego Diversification

What does it mean to diversify your ego? Does that even make sense?

In the investment world, diversification is de rigueur. Anyone who works with an investment advisor has heard them talk about the benefits of holding a diversified portfolio. The reasons are pretty straightforward, asset classes typically move differently and when one class is underperforming, another is likely to outperform. The goal, therefore, of holding a diversified portfolio, is to achieve an overall positive return. And, even when a positive return isn’t feasible, e.g. in a significant downturn like we experienced in 2008, a diversified portfolio will still outperform a single asset class that experienced a significant loss, the S&P 500, in this example.

The concept of ego diversification is similar. If we are getting all of our identify, our ego satisfaction, from a single pursuit, what happens when something is not going well with that pursuit?

Perhaps something at work is not going well, a new customer, for example, wasn’t transitioned well and we focus all of our attention on fixing that problem. Our initial instinct often is to double down and laser focus on solving the problem.

  • What is the impact to our self-esteem when our gut tells us solving the problem is going to take a while?
  • What if instead of grinding away, heads down, for weeks or even months, we intentionally spread our attention toward positive situations, time with a happy customer, or time being in service to someone or something that matters to us?
  • How might the “performance” of our lives improve, if we endeavor to diversify our ego gratification all the time thereby creating a “portfolio” of pursuits that together provide satisfaction and joy?

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain

Q3 2017 Vistage CEO Confidence Index Results

The Q3 Vistage CEO Confidence Index was nearly equal to the second and third quarters of 2017, suggesting that optimism among small business CEOs has stabilized.

Q2 2017 Vistage CEO Confidence Index highlights include:

  • 52% of CEOs said the economy had recently improved, slightly below last quarter’s 55% but more than twice last year’s 25%.
  • 32% of CEOs expect the economy to post additional gains during the year ahead, down from 38% last quarter.
  • 62% of CEOs plan to expand their workforce in the year ahead.
  • 77% of CEOs expect increased revenues in the year ahead.
  • 62% of CEOs expect increased profits in the year ahead.
  • 47% of CEOs expect to increase investment expenditures in the next year.

Chicago Area Survey Highlights:

  • 28% of CEOs expect the economy to improve in the year ahead (vs. 32% nationally)
  • 38% of CEOs expect to increase investments in the year ahead (vs. 47% nationally)
  • 64% of CEOs expect to increase revenue in the year ahead (vs. 77% nationally)
  • 54% of CEOs plan to expand their workforce in the next year (vs. 62% nationally)
  • 50% of CEOs thought the national economy had improved in the past year (vs. 52% nationally)
  • 55% of CEOs expect rising profits in the year ahead (vs. 62% nationally)

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain

 

Leadership Quote: The Concept of ‘Value Added’…

This month’s leadership quote:

“The concept of  ‘value added’ will drive more companies bankrupt than any other.”

Sam Bowers

What???, you say. Value added is how we differentiate; value added is how we compete; it’s how we win. Yes and..

  • How much is it costing to add that extra value?
  • Are you giving away services that you can legitimately charge for?
  • When you assign a team to help a customer beyond your normal service, do you know how much it is costing you?
  • Does your price reflect the true value of your product and/or service?

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain